‘Knickers’ row BBC man quits Tory safe seat bid
A BBC local radio presenter who claimed women should ‘keep their knickers on’ to avoid being raped has stepped down as a Tory candidate.
Nick Conrad, who hosted BBC Radio Norfolk’s breakfast show, had been picked to stand in the Broadland constituency, a safe seat where retiring MP Keith Simpson has a 15,816 majority.
He has now stepped down over controversial comments he made on air while discussing Ched Evans, the footballer convicted of rape, in 2014. He said: ‘[Women] have to understand when a man’s given certain signals he’ll wish to act upon them and if you don’t wish to give out the wrong signals, it’s best to keep your knickers on.’
Evans was subsequently cleared in a retrial. Mr Conrad, who apologised for the comment, faced an Ofcom inquiry but was cleared.
Announcing he was stepping down following a fresh backlash, Mr Conrad said last night: ‘I was honoured to be made the Conservative candidate... and had hoped to become the MP for a constituency which is close to my heart.
‘However it has become clear to me that the media attention on my previous comments have become a distraction. This is why I have reluctantly concluded I must stand down.’
Earlier, the Tory hopeful told the Eastern Daily Press he had ‘completely messed up’. Boris Johnson said the comments were ‘ completely unacceptable’. Labour’s Jess Phillips tweeted about Mr Conrad: ‘It’s best to keep your knickers on to avoid rape according to this dude.
‘I find it’s best avoided by never coming in to contact with misogynistic men who have no understanding of consent.’